Daniel R. Benson (born November 22, 1975) is an American Democratic Party politician who is the current Mercer County Executive and a former member of the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 14th Legislative District. Benson, who previously served on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders, replaced Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein, after she was elected to the New Jersey Senate in a special election. He was sworn in on January 10, 2011, to fill Greenstein's vacant Assembly seat.

Daniel R. Benson
Mercer County Executive
Assumed office
January 4, 2024
Preceded byBrian M. Hughes
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 14th District
In office
January 10, 2011 – December 31, 2023
Preceded byLinda R. Greenstein
Succeeded byTennille McCoy
Chair of the New Jersey General Assembly Committee Transportation and Independent Authorities
In office
January 10, 2012 – December 31, 2023
Member of the Mercer County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders
In office
March 18, 2008 – January 10, 2011
Preceded byElizabeth Maher Muoio
Succeeded bySamuel Frisby
Personal details
Born (1975-11-22) November 22, 1975 (age 48)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHande Yurttan
ResidenceHamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Alma materGeorgetown University (B.S.)
Rutgers University (M.P.P.)
OccupationEnergy and telecommunications policy consultant
Websitewww.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/332/assemblyman-benson

Early life and education

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Benson received a B.S degree from Georgetown University, studying physics and government, and a Master of Public Policy degree from Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, studying science and technology policy.[1] He was elected to the Hamilton Township Council in 2002, becoming the youngest elected councilman in township history.[2] He served on the council until 2005, when he gave up his seat to run for the New Jersey General Assembly. Benson lost the Assembly race, finishing behind the incumbents, Republican Bill Baroni and Democrat Linda R. Greenstein.[3]

Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders

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In 2008, Benson was appointed to a seat on the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders by county Democrats, replacing Elizabeth Maher Muoio who took on a county job.[4] He won a special election in November 2008 to complete the remainder of Muoio's term and was re-elected to a full three-year term in 2009.[5][6]

New Jersey Assembly

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When Assemblywoman Greenstein won a special election to fill the remainder of Baroni's Senate term in November 2010, Benson ran for the vacant Assembly seat. On January 8, 2011, Benson was selected by a Democratic convention of Mercer and Middlesex counties (the counties that compose the 14th District) to replace Greenstein.[7] He was sworn in on January 10, 2011.[8] He resigned on December 31, 2023, after being elected Mercer County Executive, allowing his successor Tennille McCoy to take office early.[9]

Committees

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  • Transportation and Independent Authorities
  • Budget
  • Health and Senior Services

District 14

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Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. The representatives from the 14th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:[10]

Electoral history

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New Jersey Assembly

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New Jersey general election, 2017[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wayne DeAngelo 35,596 30.0   0.2
Democratic Daniel R. Benson 35,088 29.6   0.9
Republican Kristian Stout 24,725 20.9   1.3
Republican Steven Uccio 23,106 19.5   0.6
Total votes '118,515' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2015[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wayne DeAngelo 22,319 30.2   3.2
Democratic Daniel R. Benson 21,187 28.7   2.7
Republican David C. Jones 14,474 19.6   4.0
Republican Philip R. Kaufman 13,937 18.9   3.1
Green Joann Cousin 1,028 1.4 N/A
Green Steven Welzer 957 1.3 N/A
Total votes '73,902' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2013[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Wayne DeAngelo 32,048 27.0   2.0
Democratic Daniel R. Benson 30,992 26.0   2.0
Republican Steve Cook 28,135 23.6   2.7
Republican Ronald Haas 26,233 22.0   1.2
Libertarian Sean O’Connor 898 0.8 N/A
Libertarian Steven Uccio 779 0.7 N/A
Total votes '119,085' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2011[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Wayne DeAngelo 26,626 29.0
Democratic Daniel R. Benson 25,662 28.0
Republican Sheree McGowan 19,135 20.9
Republican Wayne Wittman 19,100 20.8
Green Steven Welzer 1,189 1.3
Total votes 91,712 100.0
New Jersey general election, 2005[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bill Baroni 37,241 27.7   0.2
Democratic Linda R. Greenstein 35,816 26.7   1.2
Democratic Daniel R. Benson 29,914 22.3   0.2
Republican Michael D. Paquette 29,899 22.3   2.2
Libertarian William Hunsicker 725 0.5 N/A
Libertarian Jason M. Scheurer 714 0.5 N/A
Total votes '134,309' '100.0'

References

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  1. ^ Assemblyman Benson's legislative page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 27, 2022.
  2. ^ Hester, Tom (January 10, 2011). "Democrat Daniel Benson sworn in as N.J. Assembly member". NewJerseyNewsroom. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  3. ^ "Benson will take a break". PolitickerNJ. November 29, 2005. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  4. ^ Pizarro, Max (March 15, 2008). "Mercer Democrats pick Walter and Cimino over Mack, and select Benson for unexpired term in freeholder contests". Politicker NJ. Retrieved September 1, 2015. Hamilton Council President Benson to fill the unexpired term of Freeholder Muio [sic], who earlier this year accepted a position as the county's director of Economic Development and Sustainability. ... Benson will be sworn-in on Tuesday.
  5. ^ Staff (November 4, 2008). "Mercer sheriff, freeholder election results". The Times. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  6. ^ Staff (November 9, 2009). "ELECTION '09: Dems sweep Mercer County freeholder race". Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  7. ^ Duffy, Erin (January 9, 2011). "Mercer freeholder Dan Benson chosen to fill 14th District Assembly seat". The Times. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  8. ^ "Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson Bio Page". NJ Assembly Majority Office. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "Benson resigning Assembly seat early; McCoy will fill one-day unexpired term". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Legislative Roster for District 14, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  12. ^ "2015-official-ge-results-nj-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  13. ^ "2013-official-general-election-results-general-assembly.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  14. ^ "2011-official-gen-elect-gen-assembly-results-121411.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 14, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  15. ^ "05831236.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
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New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 14th District
January 10, 2011 – December 31, 2023
With: Wayne DeAngelo
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mercer County At-large Freeholder
March 18, 2008 – January 10, 2011
Succeeded by
Samuel Frisby